Plastic ingestion by harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands

E. Bravo Rebolledo; J.A. van Franeker; O.E. Jansen; S.M.J.M. Brasseur

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.035

Plastic ingestion by harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands

E. Bravo Rebolledo, J.A. van Franeker, O.E. Jansen, S.M.J.M. Brasseur

Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

177 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to 3 years of age, were most affected. This is the first quantitative study of plastic ingestion by phocid seals. The observed level of incidence is of environmental concern, but is low in the sense of suitability of seals for MSFD monitoring purposes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	200-202
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	67
Issue number	1/2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.035
Publication status	Published - 2013

Keywords

fulmar fulmarus-glacialis
macquarie island
microplastics
population
pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.035

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title = "Plastic ingestion by harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands",

abstract = "Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to 3 years of age, were most affected. This is the first quantitative study of plastic ingestion by phocid seals. The observed level of incidence is of environmental concern, but is low in the sense of suitability of seals for MSFD monitoring purposes.",

keywords = "fulmar fulmarus-glacialis, macquarie island, microplastics, population, pollution",

author = "{Bravo Rebolledo}, E. and {van Franeker}, J.A. and O.E. Jansen and S.M.J.M. Brasseur",

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T1 - Plastic ingestion by harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands

AU - Bravo Rebolledo, E.

AU - van Franeker, J.A.

AU - Jansen, O.E.

AU - Brasseur, S.M.J.M.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to 3 years of age, were most affected. This is the first quantitative study of plastic ingestion by phocid seals. The observed level of incidence is of environmental concern, but is low in the sense of suitability of seals for MSFD monitoring purposes.

AB - Abundance of ingested debris by seals has been mentioned as a potential indicator of marine litter in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). A sample of 107 stomachs, 100 intestines and 125 scats of harbour seals from the Netherlands was analysed for the presence of plastics. Incidence of plastic was 11% for stomachs, 1% for intestines, and 0% for scats. Younger animals, up to 3 years of age, were most affected. This is the first quantitative study of plastic ingestion by phocid seals. The observed level of incidence is of environmental concern, but is low in the sense of suitability of seals for MSFD monitoring purposes.

KW - fulmar fulmarus-glacialis

KW - macquarie island

KW - microplastics

KW - population

KW - pollution

U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.035

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.11.035

M3 - Article

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 67

SP - 200

EP - 202

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

IS - 1/2

ER -

Plastic ingestion by harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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